Graysville on cusp of receiving results from TBI probe

Graysville on cusp of receiving results from TBI probe

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's look into the goings-on at the Graysville Police Department is finished, and its findings have been handed over to the regional District Attorney Mike Taylor.

Illana Tate, TBI spokeswoman, said Friday that the bureau's investigation was turned over to Taylor last week. Taylor was unavailable for comment Friday.

But the end of the investigation has the city on the edge of something final, as the results are expected to come out by next month and finally reveal if legal action will be taken against anyone.

The investigation arose from allegations in August that Chief Erik Redden lost $4,000 that Officer Shawn Shelton confiscated during a traffic stop.

Redden said in August he handed the money over to City Recorder Michelle Horton for documentation, in accordance with state law. But Horton said that didn't happen until weeks after the stop and confiscation.

Since then, turmoil over the allegations led the city's board of commissioners to limit Horton's authority to make personnel decisions. Horton holds most of the responsibilities typical of a city manager position in larger towns.

TBI agents visited Redden's home a few months ago.

Redden and Shelton were placed on unpaid leave in August but have since returned to work while TBI agents performed a nearly seven-month investigation of the department and the city's interaction with it.

Horton's and Redden's supporters have made accusations. At Thursday's regular city meeting, an agenda item called for a vote whether to retain Horton as city recorder. But the vote was postponed until April, when the TBI investigation results are expected to be known.

"I look forward to putting this behind us and working together with the commission, the citizens and employees to continue moving forward and building on our motto, 'Graysville a small city with a big heart,'" Horton said Friday.

Redden was unavailable for comment.

The investigation is expected to reveal whether anyone has committed criminal activity.